Injury-prone Saracens get Luger tonic

Dan Luger took part in his first Saracens contact training session for 10 weeks yesterday to signal the end of an injury nightmare that has threatened his chances of making this summer's Lions tour to Australia.

The wing, who has yet to sign a new Saracens contract, has been sidelined since aggravating a neck problem while tackling Scott Gibbs during England's opening Six Nations match against Wales in February.

Luger was the front runner for a Lions wing place, but must now hope the selectors base their team - named on 25 April - on past form rather than current success.

For Luger, this is the second season ruined by injury following the groin problem he suffered during England's 1999 World Cup campaign.

While many players hit by long-term injury find themselves following a lonely recovery programme, anyone crocked at Saracens has had plenty of company.

The club have the worst injury record in the Premiership, with 10 players suffering broken bones this season and no fewer than 19 first-team squad members sidelined at some point.

The latest additions to that list came on Sunday with flanker Kris Chesney snapping cruciate ligaments and England prop Julian White damaging a calf muscle that threatens to keep him out of the Premiership play-off away to Northampton on 28 April.

For Francois Pienaar, the Saracens chief executive, it has been a frustrating season.

"Thanks to all those injuries, we haven't been able to put out our strongest side for the last two years," he said.

"To lose 10 players this season with broken bones is a massive handicap and the fans have been unable to enjoy watching Dan Luger, Tim Horan and Thomas Castaignede in the same team.

"It's all very unfortunate and we have, for good reasons, looked into how the injuries have occurred and only one was the result of a training session.

"The rest of the guys were hurt in normal play and there is nothing you can do about that."

Play-off opponents Northampton are also having problems, with Budge Pountney having an operation to drain fluid from a knee.

The Scotland flanker will not feature in the play-offs and, like Luger, he faces a fight to convince the Lions selectors he is fit enough to tour.

While doubt surrounds where Luger, White and Paul Wallace will be playing next season, Pienaar has agreed new contracts with hookers Robbie Russell, of Scotland, and James Parkes.

Russell said: "We started this season off well, but after our defeats to Cardiff our form dipped, players went off on international duty and our bad run of injuries started.

"I still think Saracens is a club that can really do something, that's why I've signed for another three years. We can definitely build a good team here and I want to be part of it."

Pienaar added: "There has been a lot of interest in Robbie from Scottish clubs and his decision to extend his stay with us is great news. He's a very talented young player with bags of potential, his performances this season have been very impressive and he gets through a tremendous workload around the pitch for a hooker."

Russell himself has been unable to avoid the Sarries curse this season, suffering shoulder and hamstring injuries.

Meanwhile, Saracens will play at two of South Africa's most famous Test venues next month.

They will face Super 12 sides the Stormers at Newlands in Cape Town on 19 May and the Blue Bulls at the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria a week later.